Moth to Lantern (Adanedhel) {August 3011}
Aug 12, 2018 15:56:09 GMT -5
Post by ELIRA on Aug 12, 2018 15:56:09 GMT -5
“Perhaps.”
After that, she had received a perhaps, though Adanedhel had not seemed at all to mean it. He had seemed to well enjoy himself. If he did mean it, she would find a way to change his mind. Kelet could tell he was inexperienced, and is surprised her, for the years he held. She was certain that she had not even been fully grown, the first she was kissed, though so long ago she could not recount much of it, save that the Easterling commander’s breath had been foul, and she had not wished to be pinned by him. She could not have counted, nor would she wish to count, the number of men she had assuaged with such actions over the years.
Adanedhel’s had been hesitant at first, but his lips had seemed to find their place quite well against her own. Kelet herself could not say that she had ever enjoyed a kiss as much. Even among the men who had been kind to her, she had not enjoyed as much. In the last sixty years, since she had worn chains, since she had been treated with such ill-regard by the men who sought after her, she had hated it completely.
She should have known it would be so, of course. Elves were fairer in all ways than foul Easterlings. Few had been what she could consider friends, and among them, those were not the males. She had found friends here in Mirkwood though, both male and female. More alike were the genders in this realm; more fairly treated among each other. Males worked among the kitchens, among the domestic tasks in the halls, though females of course still bore the greatest share of that work. But females also worked among the guard. Kelet had learned that even the wife of the Prince had been a Captain in the ranks.
And even among the elves, Adanedhel stood out, at least to her. He had been correct; they had seen each other often this past month. Kelet could not deny it. Though she had longer known Meludir, she found herself drawn to seek after her raven haired friend more than the others. Drawn like the moths which would seek for any light source in the dark night. Kelet had been in the dark long enough, and though Adanedhel she knew felt weary of soul, he had yet a light about him which attracted her. She could not quite… explain it. If she could explain it, she would have told Adanedhel of it, but what was there to tell, when she knew not herself?
To think, he had said she thought of him as an animal. A pet. It was upsetting. If she had felt in such a way she could have simply allowed the master healer to tend to him, and leave him at that. She would not have spent the following time seeking him while he was well. While she did not wish to see any elf wounded or marred, whether him or others, there was more to him than simply the battlescarred elf who had needed healing.
“Is that supposed to be a compliment? I would hope so, for I am nothing like those Men.”
Kelet paused in her climbing, looking down, as if evaluating him. “Of course, I compliment. It is true. You are not like them,” she answered simply. “You are good, Adan. You are kind.” Her gaze shifted back upwards to the lofty branches as she slowly lifted herself, handhold to handhold. She could hear Adanedhel shadowing behind her.
Higher yet, over twisting boughs, and bark which scraped her hands. “You are strong. Gentle.” Her bells jingled, and her toes curled around the edges of branches, as she thought on it. The Easterlings too were strong, but to combine strength with a gentle demeanor was unheard of, at least to her. At least among the ruling families. Even so, she doubted there was comparison in that regard.
Limb after limb, she continued to climb. Adanedhel must have chosen one of the highest trees in the forest, she was sure. Wade in the water, indeed. She would take him in to his waist to compensate for this. Perhaps all the deeper! It was safe. Her toes tugged against her dress and her foot slipped for a moment. Though Kelet’s hands had not loosed from the branches, her heart quickened. He was there though. He had said he would be there. “You are safe.” Righting herself, she continued upward.
“Honest.” Kelet respected honesty. So many years had she lived in a space of secrets; she had not even truly known herself in the end. She did not feel that she knew herself now. That Adan had told her what he thought… what he truly felt, while it had startled her. Upset her even. She was glad she knew. Kelet knew she was not the most observant at reading between the lines, but with him… she would rather know than not know. She could handle it. What did it mean for her? She was not certain. He was her mellon, and he knew that. She had told him so. Physically close, no it did not upset her. She had been close to many; many she had not wished to be close to, and now it was her choice. She could decide, and Adanedhel was worthy of time spent. There were many reasons; the least of which was how comfortable it was to hold his hand and have him near. She had enjoyed kissing him, she could not deny that. He wished for more than that; she knew it in the way he had said it. Deeper feelings. Kelet did not think she was capable of deep feelings… not in the way he spoke. But in the least she could please him in other ways. At least, until it was time for her to go.
“Stubborn… well, Easterling have stubborn too. I suppose you are alike in this way,” she teased. "I like stubborn. I like stubborn determination." Glancing down again. A long way down! Her eyes widened slightly, and her fingers gripped white knuckled against the tree branches. Pulling in a deep breath. It was just like swimming, she reminded herself. Climbing was just like swimming, she had only needed to practice, to get used to it. She was agile and lithe, it should be no true challenge. Closing her eyes a moment she gathered herself and pulled up again.
“You are calm...” she muttered. Usually calm. She had riled him earlier it was true, though his temperament settled easily. Kelet wished sometimes she could be so quick to calm. Glancing upward, she could see the break in the boughs of the tree. Enough of an opening that expanse of twilight sky shone above. It was only a few more limbs, until she found one that seemed adequate to sit upon, opening out. This tree was taller than many of the others, letting them see over the forest. Kelet could see the shadow of the mountain off in the distance, the reflections of what light of day was left remaining on the black expanse of the waters of the Long Lake. She could feel the light touch of the moth’s wings again as they drew to her again, and lightly brushed them away, though soon her hands were gripping again the tree branches.
“Adan,” she waved her fingers below, toward him, bells ringing, though soon gripped again at the tree. She could barely see him in the darkening evening. “Face of the moon is dark tonight,” she commented. It would be nearly black below the trees now, pitch black by the time they descended. But nights lacking the moon were best for the viewing of stars, even those which were dim would be visible. Tipping her head backward to look up she felt almost dizzy! So high up. “Come by me, come calm me. I need you,” she laughed lightly, though it was uneasy. Her resolve of enjoying the height of trees was wavering. Kelet did not like to admit when she was uneasy. She did not like to ask for help. She had spent a great number of years covering her uneasiness with the face of completely outward determination, though it was not always what she had felt inwardly. Yet with Adanedhel… perhaps things could be different. Perhaps. That was what he had said to her as well. She gripped at the tree bark.
After that, she had received a perhaps, though Adanedhel had not seemed at all to mean it. He had seemed to well enjoy himself. If he did mean it, she would find a way to change his mind. Kelet could tell he was inexperienced, and is surprised her, for the years he held. She was certain that she had not even been fully grown, the first she was kissed, though so long ago she could not recount much of it, save that the Easterling commander’s breath had been foul, and she had not wished to be pinned by him. She could not have counted, nor would she wish to count, the number of men she had assuaged with such actions over the years.
Adanedhel’s had been hesitant at first, but his lips had seemed to find their place quite well against her own. Kelet herself could not say that she had ever enjoyed a kiss as much. Even among the men who had been kind to her, she had not enjoyed as much. In the last sixty years, since she had worn chains, since she had been treated with such ill-regard by the men who sought after her, she had hated it completely.
She should have known it would be so, of course. Elves were fairer in all ways than foul Easterlings. Few had been what she could consider friends, and among them, those were not the males. She had found friends here in Mirkwood though, both male and female. More alike were the genders in this realm; more fairly treated among each other. Males worked among the kitchens, among the domestic tasks in the halls, though females of course still bore the greatest share of that work. But females also worked among the guard. Kelet had learned that even the wife of the Prince had been a Captain in the ranks.
And even among the elves, Adanedhel stood out, at least to her. He had been correct; they had seen each other often this past month. Kelet could not deny it. Though she had longer known Meludir, she found herself drawn to seek after her raven haired friend more than the others. Drawn like the moths which would seek for any light source in the dark night. Kelet had been in the dark long enough, and though Adanedhel she knew felt weary of soul, he had yet a light about him which attracted her. She could not quite… explain it. If she could explain it, she would have told Adanedhel of it, but what was there to tell, when she knew not herself?
To think, he had said she thought of him as an animal. A pet. It was upsetting. If she had felt in such a way she could have simply allowed the master healer to tend to him, and leave him at that. She would not have spent the following time seeking him while he was well. While she did not wish to see any elf wounded or marred, whether him or others, there was more to him than simply the battlescarred elf who had needed healing.
“Is that supposed to be a compliment? I would hope so, for I am nothing like those Men.”
Kelet paused in her climbing, looking down, as if evaluating him. “Of course, I compliment. It is true. You are not like them,” she answered simply. “You are good, Adan. You are kind.” Her gaze shifted back upwards to the lofty branches as she slowly lifted herself, handhold to handhold. She could hear Adanedhel shadowing behind her.
Higher yet, over twisting boughs, and bark which scraped her hands. “You are strong. Gentle.” Her bells jingled, and her toes curled around the edges of branches, as she thought on it. The Easterlings too were strong, but to combine strength with a gentle demeanor was unheard of, at least to her. At least among the ruling families. Even so, she doubted there was comparison in that regard.
Limb after limb, she continued to climb. Adanedhel must have chosen one of the highest trees in the forest, she was sure. Wade in the water, indeed. She would take him in to his waist to compensate for this. Perhaps all the deeper! It was safe. Her toes tugged against her dress and her foot slipped for a moment. Though Kelet’s hands had not loosed from the branches, her heart quickened. He was there though. He had said he would be there. “You are safe.” Righting herself, she continued upward.
“Honest.” Kelet respected honesty. So many years had she lived in a space of secrets; she had not even truly known herself in the end. She did not feel that she knew herself now. That Adan had told her what he thought… what he truly felt, while it had startled her. Upset her even. She was glad she knew. Kelet knew she was not the most observant at reading between the lines, but with him… she would rather know than not know. She could handle it. What did it mean for her? She was not certain. He was her mellon, and he knew that. She had told him so. Physically close, no it did not upset her. She had been close to many; many she had not wished to be close to, and now it was her choice. She could decide, and Adanedhel was worthy of time spent. There were many reasons; the least of which was how comfortable it was to hold his hand and have him near. She had enjoyed kissing him, she could not deny that. He wished for more than that; she knew it in the way he had said it. Deeper feelings. Kelet did not think she was capable of deep feelings… not in the way he spoke. But in the least she could please him in other ways. At least, until it was time for her to go.
“Stubborn… well, Easterling have stubborn too. I suppose you are alike in this way,” she teased. "I like stubborn. I like stubborn determination." Glancing down again. A long way down! Her eyes widened slightly, and her fingers gripped white knuckled against the tree branches. Pulling in a deep breath. It was just like swimming, she reminded herself. Climbing was just like swimming, she had only needed to practice, to get used to it. She was agile and lithe, it should be no true challenge. Closing her eyes a moment she gathered herself and pulled up again.
“You are calm...” she muttered. Usually calm. She had riled him earlier it was true, though his temperament settled easily. Kelet wished sometimes she could be so quick to calm. Glancing upward, she could see the break in the boughs of the tree. Enough of an opening that expanse of twilight sky shone above. It was only a few more limbs, until she found one that seemed adequate to sit upon, opening out. This tree was taller than many of the others, letting them see over the forest. Kelet could see the shadow of the mountain off in the distance, the reflections of what light of day was left remaining on the black expanse of the waters of the Long Lake. She could feel the light touch of the moth’s wings again as they drew to her again, and lightly brushed them away, though soon her hands were gripping again the tree branches.
“Adan,” she waved her fingers below, toward him, bells ringing, though soon gripped again at the tree. She could barely see him in the darkening evening. “Face of the moon is dark tonight,” she commented. It would be nearly black below the trees now, pitch black by the time they descended. But nights lacking the moon were best for the viewing of stars, even those which were dim would be visible. Tipping her head backward to look up she felt almost dizzy! So high up. “Come by me, come calm me. I need you,” she laughed lightly, though it was uneasy. Her resolve of enjoying the height of trees was wavering. Kelet did not like to admit when she was uneasy. She did not like to ask for help. She had spent a great number of years covering her uneasiness with the face of completely outward determination, though it was not always what she had felt inwardly. Yet with Adanedhel… perhaps things could be different. Perhaps. That was what he had said to her as well. She gripped at the tree bark.